The man challenging Angela Merkel for the leadership of Germany dismissed his chief spokesman yesterday, in a sign of deep frustration at the gaffes that have left the Social Democrats trailing in the polls.

With the German general election barely three months away, Peer Steinbrück parted company with Michael Donnermeyer “to go into the last 100 days of the campaign with the best possible team”.

Mr Steinbrück, 66, has been dogged by his own faux pas and an inability to find a way to outscore Mrs Merkel on the issues that voters care most about, notably the economy and jobs.

As part of the core campaign team, Mr Donnermeyer has been blamed for some of the worst blunders, such as overseeing an interview with a